Okay, so it finally feels real. I got the contract in the mail, and the check payable to me upon signing with Avon for the three book deal.

I had NO idea how gratifying it would be to get real money for writing, not just the two-copy payment most writers cut their teeth on. Paid? Really? Where's the hidden camera? Come on.

I've been calling myself a writer for so long, even though the first question I always seem to get is, "Really? You get paid to do that?" Then I have to shake my head and say firmly, "Not really, but it's what I do."

Now? Getting a payment in the mail is a validation I never knew I craved. Sure, most of it is going to taxes and bills and fixing the water heater and getting a dishwasher which I hear will extend our marriage warranty.

But I did something really smart. I was talking to Lala in the kitchen, right after I opened the FedEx envelope. My hands were still kind of shaky. I said, "Maybe now, just maybe, I'll get those shoes I've been wanting for so long. But maybe not...."
Then I decided, hey. I'm GETTING the shoes. I stood up, went in my office, opened Zappos.com and ordered my Dansko Sallys, size 39.

Sexiest shoes ever, shoes that seriously go with every single thing I own, from jeans to dresses. I first saw those shoes on Too Much Wool Cassie, when I met her for the first time in New York five years ago. I remember we were standing in front of Purl Soho, and I said, "THOSE ARE THE BEST SHOES I'VE EVER SEEN." I've wanted them since then. Cassie, we are twinners now.

And it is possible that later today I will go buy a celebratory skein or two of yarn. In the past I've celebrated things (like the completion of the Nanowrimo that led to this book) with really nice yarn made into socks -- memory socks. I think I might do that again.
Hooray!

Also, in big news: I HAVE AN ISBN. An ISBN of my own. Actually, I have three reserved, although since I bet they can get changed before publication, I will wait till the books are out to get them as tattoos. But seriously, wouldn't that be a cool tattoo idea? DUDE.

Posted by Rachael at 09:36:55 AM

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Yay for you! You need to find a librarian friend whose library will buy your book so they can send you a copy of your MARC record. Or you can get it from the Library of Congress. Completely geeky, but cool!

I love those Dansko Sallys. I even tried them on, but they didn’t fit my feet, so I had to settle for the Dansko Marcelle. I’m a little jealous. Just a little.
Your own ISBN tattoo is the coolest thing I have ever heard!

Love me some Dansko's. And I am so proud of you and your books. I can't wait to go buy them.

as for the dishwasher, get a good one that is quiet. Seriously, mine is so loud I can hardly function, but my brothers is so quiet you can hardly tell it is running. There is a direct correlation between dollars expended and noise emitted!

Oh, Rachael!!!! I remember when I first found you online and you were in your little apartment (with George outside the window, I recall, the giant plant) even before you got the condo and before you met Banjo Girl...And you were sitting outside and writing, writing....What a long, wonderful trip it's been, eh?
I send you and Lala many, many hugs.

I would so get that tat done, but I'd do it a little differently. Maybe put the title of the book in that beautiful script tattoo artists use above the ISBN and surround it with swirls, flowers, and something meaningful to you and Lala. But of course, I'm the Harley tattoo queen who is getting new ink myself. Now that I live about an hour or so from Los Angeles, I'm going to that place where "LA Ink" is and have one of those awesome designers put the name of my bike surrounded with something really cool on my front shoulder, fanning out across the top of my shoulder and a little up my neck.

I have those shoes! They are awesome. Way to celebrate your huge accomplishment!

I love the pix of you rock-climbing, too. I used to climb a lot (like, outside! before there were gyms!) but I think my knees would be unhappy with me if I went now. Gyms are a great way to climb. Try it outside sometime, too -- it's a whole different thing.